Artist Richard Diebenkorn on getting a grant to help him to keep painting
From page 40 of an interview of artist Richard Diebenkorn in 1985 by Archives of American Art. I find it amazing and disappointing that even one of the best artist that American has to offer, made it by the skin of his teeth by getting a grant to continue his work. Also that so many artists have to teach to make ends meet, when they would much rather just do their painting with all of their time.
(He got the grant around 1954 at age 32)
https://www.aaa.si.edu/download_pdf_transcript/ajax?record_id=edanmdm-AAADCD_oh_216520
Susan Larsen: And you had a grant so that you didn't have to teach, at that point?
Richard Diebenkorn: Yeah, that was, that was, really saved my life, and that. . . .
SL: This was the Rosenberg fellowship?
RD: Yeah. That helped me a lot, and when I was on the arts council, National Endowment for the Arts, later, and, I really knew what I wanted to push there in terms of grants because of my experience.
SL: What was that?
RD: Well, we were really broke, and I actually had arranged, I had made--I put in this application, but wasn't counting on anything coming through--and I had actually been to the taxicab company and was, in two weeks I was going to start (chuckles). And then the grant came through and so that was really a lifesaver. So my feeling about grants when I was on the council was that you don't try and put somebody, a few artists, make them instantly wealthy; that many, many grants and enough to tide somebody over in. . . . Because that's how it was with me. I just needed that tiding over at that time. But curiously enough, the grant idea hadn't, I mean, it wasn't anything new, but people thought that, a surprising number of people thought that the really strong, the few strong artists in the country should be rewarded by large grants, you know, like $50,000 or something like that.
SL: Yes, I know. And often those are the people who are doing all right.
RD: Um hmm, sure, yeah. So that grant showed me a lot and I was eternally grateful for having gotten it. . . .
SL: You must have had a very hard time.
RD: . . . at that really crisis, crucial, time for me.
SL: You must have had a very supportive spouse, too
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/diebenkorn-ten-rules
"Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn
1. Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued – except as a stimulus for further moves.
3. DO search.
4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.
5. Don’t “discover” a subject – of any kind.
6. Somehow don’t be bored but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.
8. Keep thinking about Pollyanna.
9. Tolerate chaos.
10. Be careful only in a perverse way.